The Hopkins girls’ varsity basketball team had a mountain to climb Friday night against a Hamilton team that might be its strongest opponent this season.
The Hawkeyes brought with them serious advantages in size, experience and a 4-0 record to boot. With the exception of one quarter, they delivered the goodies on the hardcourt in a convincing 74-47 victory.
Hamilton this season already has defeated customary powerhouses South Christian, Hudsonville and Grand Rapids Catholic Central, not to mention Middleville Thornapple Kellogg. And the Schrotenboer girls, sophomore Sierra and senior Bria, and 6-2 center A.J. Ediger demonstrated just why the Hawkeyes might be among the top girls’ hoops teams in West Michigan.
The inexperience of Hopkins showed early when the home team fell behind by an alarming 19-3 count in the first quarter. With only one senior in point guard Kennedy Helderop, the Lady Vikings were no match for the taller, stronger and more talented visiting quintet.
It’s not as though Hamilton’s full-court pressure was the culprit. Helderop led the press-breaking effort to get the ball over the timeline, but once the Vikings went into their half-court offense, they threw the ball away, committed too many turnovers and barely got off any decent shots at the hoop.
However, the Lady Vikes then came up with perhaps their best offensive one-quarter performance in the second period, putting 25 points on the board and drawing to within seven, 35-28, at intermission. Of course, Helderop was the driving force, scoring 12 points on a couple of threes and some driving scoop layups.
Freshman Lexi Teunissen banked in a layup with less than 30 seconds to go in the half, and Hopkins slowly and determinedly had made it a ballgame at intermission.
But the third period went almost as badly as the first. Hamilton outgunned the Lady Vikings 12-1 in the first four minutes of the second half and took control. The Hawkeyes also did a remarkable defensive job on Helderop, who was limited to just four free throws and didn’t score one field goal in the last 16 minutes. Even worse, because she tried to do it all, she sometimes attempted some frustrated throws rather than shots at the basket.
Helderop finished with 17 points to lead Hopkins, Teunissen had her best offensive game in her brief career with eight points. Olivia Sebright scored seven points and handled the bulk of the difficult chore of rebounding against the burly Ediger and the Schrotenboers. Samantha Sebright added six points.
Bria Schrotenboer led the Hawkeyes with 19 points, Ediger had 14 and Sierra and Sally Merrill each had 10.
Hopkins, now 1-4 overall, will give it a rest until Friday. Jan. 4, to take on Tri-Unity Christian.
COVER PHOTO: Kennedy Helderop (23) looks back hopefully at her scoop layup attempt, which was successful. Look at the size of Bria Schrotenboer (22) and A.J. Ediger (34) of Hamilton.